Web cutting mechanism for continuous rewinder



April 23, 1963 P. zERNov 3,086,725

WEB CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS REWINDER Filed Sept. 28, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

x l ||I PETER ZERNOV ATTORNEYS April 23, 1963 P. zERNov 3,086,725

WEB CUTTING NEOHANTSM FOR CONTINUOUS REWINDER Filed sept. 2s, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

PETER ZERN OV ATTORNEYS.

April 23, 1963 P. ZERNOV WEB CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CONTINUOUS REWINDER Filed Sep'.. 28, 1960v 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

PETER ZERNOV BY 211m, M07@ ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O WEB CUITHNG MECHANISM FUR CONTMUUS REWINDER Peter Zernov, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Miehle-Goss-Dexter, Incorporated, Chicago,

El., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 59,984 7 Claims. (Cl. 242-56) This invention relates generally to apparatus for cutting, transferring and winding a continuously moving web of material, so that successive rolls of web are formed without interrupting the winding operation.

The continuously moving webs with which the present invention finds utility move at a very rapid rate and it is desirable to sever the web as quickly as possible in order to keep to an absolute minimum the amount of hesitation, interference, deflection or obstruction to the newly formed leading edge. The newly formed edge should preferably lie smoothly against the new core without folding back, buckling or wrinkling. This problem of forming a smooth and tight relationship between the new edge of the web and the new core has heretofore been troublesome and is important because, without the formation of a smooth and good web connection to the core, slipping between the core and roll as the latter is being formed occurs prematurely. Stated otherwise, as the diameter of the roll increases, the moment arm through which web tension acts also increases. Thus the amount of torque that the roll can transmit is limited in a poorly started roll because slippage on the core occurs, thereby limiting the size to which the roll may be formed.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome the above shortcomings and provide a cut-olf knife mechanism which insures a smoothly formed and tight connection between the new core and Web edge.

More specifically, the present invention provides a cutoff knife which is stationary during the cutting operation and against which the web is caused to be impaled by a web guiding means. The arrangement is such that the newly formed leading edge of the web always travels in the proper direction and is not caused to deviate even slightly by the cutting means. Instead, the knife acts to guide the newly formed edge in the proper direction relative to the new core. An exceptionally short free leading edge is formed and one which does not fold over. This leading edge is not trapped behind or deflected by the knife and does not need tobe folded in order to escape or free itself from the knife.

With the above cutting mechanism, it is the web tension itself which furnishes the force necessary to effect the cutting action, and cutting is thereby positively assured in a moving web. In this respect the web is self energizing into the cut.

The invention also provides a cutting mechanism in which the cutting knife is easily and accurately located relative to the moving web to be severed. After the cut has been effected, the knife is supported on the roll being formed and requires no attention on the part of the operator.

The cutting mechanism provided by this invention is relatively simple in construction and operation and requires a minimum of adjustment, attention or repair.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational View of a web rewinder employing the present invention, certain parts being shown as broken away;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view, taken along the section line 2 2 in FIGURE l, but on an enlarged scale and certain parts removed for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the FIGURE l rewinder, but with the web and new core removed for clarity in the drawings;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, detail, side elevational view, of a portion of the device as shown in FIGURE l, certain parts being removed, broken away or in section; the view being taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but taken along the line 5 5 in FIGURE 2, and showing the guide bar when lowered to a position just prior to the web being cut;

FIGURE 6 is another view similar to FIGURE 4, but taken along the line 6 6 in FIGURE 2, and showing the guide bar as when in its lowest position and immediately after the web has been cut and the new leading edge of the web is starting around the new core;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 7 7 in FIGURE 2, but on an enlarged scale, and showing the ratchet means for holding the knife -in the inoperative position for unloading a completed roll.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the turnover stand includes a pair of vertically positioned and spaced apart sides 1t? and 1l which are fabricated as heavy weldments. A roll-carrying frame 12 includes a centrally disposed shaft 13 and the frame 12 is suitably journalled in the sides 10 and 11 for rotation in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE l. Hydraulically operated chucking heads 14 and 15 are carried at opposite ends of the frame for removably holding cores 16 and 17, respectively.

While the term cores has been used in this specification, it will be understood that other typical means may be employed for carrying or supporting the roll of material during formation. For example, other -terms such as mandrel, reel, spool, spindle or shaft, among others, may be used without departing from this invention. These cores have at least a portion of their periphery covered with an adhesive, such as adhesive strips A, to cause the leading portion of the web to adhere rmly thereto when it is pressed against the core by the pressure roll, as will appear presently. The cores are of course positively rotated in the Well-known manne-r, as shown in -my U.S. Patent, No. 2,973,158, issued on February 28, 1961, to cause winding of the web tlierearound.

A pair of guide rollers 18 and 19l are journalled on the frame 12 and over which the web is trained after the frame has rotated sufficiently to swing the roll being formed in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE l. The above stand and frame, as described, are conventional as far as the present invention is concerned, and if a more detailed explanation of their structure or function is deemed necessary or desirable, reference may be had to my U.S. Patents, No. 2,969,930, issued on January 3l, 1961, or No. 2,973,158, issued on February 28, 1961. It is believed suiicient to say that the frame 12 is rotated very slowly in the counterclockwise direction (as viewed in FIGURE 1) as the web roll 20 is being formed. Then as the new core 16 reaches a predetermined position, the web W is caused to be cut and trained `around the new core, as will appear. When the frame 12 has thereafter rotated sufficiently to lower the completed roll 20 to the floor F, roll 20 is unloaded from the frame and a new core inserted in its place.

Located adjacent to the turnover stand assembly is a tensioning web supply means 22 which includes a roller 23 under which the tensioned web passes as it leaves the supply means. The roller 23 is suitably journalled in the side members 24 and 25. A piston and cylinder unit 26 and 27 are pivoted at one of their ends on the members 24 and 25, respectively. The frame members 24 and 2S are in themselves conventional, and if a more com-plete description of them is deemed necessary or desirable reference may be had to my U.S. Patent, No. 2,973,158, which issued von February 28, 1961. These units 26 and 27 are operated together as a unit, and as they are being fully extended they act to swing the guide bar assembly G into the lower or operative position where the web is caused to be severed, as will more fully appear. Cutting means 30 and 31 are provided, one on each side of the rotatable frame 12, for severing the web adjacent. to .the core -at either end of the frame. As the construction and operation of these cutting means 30 and 31 are similar, a detailed description will be made only to one of them. `Only one of these cutting means isoperative at one time, `and these means are operated alternately and in cooperation with the guide means G.

The cutting blade B is comprised of a thin metal strip havinga cutting edge of saw teeth, the teeth having a pitch, for example, of one-half inch. The blade is secured to an angle iron blade holder 33 by ilat headed bolts 33a.

The blade holder is rigidly secured to the free end of a pair of arms 34 which are pivoted at their other ends by means of an oscillatable shaft 36 to which they are securely fixed. Shaft 36 is oscillatably mounted in the pair of bearings 37 and 38 secured to the central shaft 13. Thus the blade is free to swing with shaft 36 as an axis between the lower position as shown adjacent to core 16 and a position shown by cutting means 31 (FIG. 1) in which it is swung away from the core 17 and rides onthe periphery of the finished roll, as will appear more fully.

- The blade holder has a pair of rubber covered rollers 40 swivelly mounted thereon. These rollers are adapted to ride on the periphery of the web roll after the latter has reached a predetermined size. Thus the blade assembly is automatically carried and supported by the web roll. More specifically, the rollers 40 are mounted on opposite ends of a shaft member 41, which member in turn is swivelly mounted on the shaft portion 42 of a bracket 43. Bracket 43 is rigidly and adjustably secured to the blade holder 33, by bolt means 33a. Thereby the distance of the blade and its holder from the core 16 can be adjusted as desired and then secured in its proper positionto give proper clearance between the blade and the new core.

When theblade assembly 39 isin the operativeposition as shown in FIGURE l, the outer ends of the blade holder 33 rest in the saddle brackets 50 which are adjustably but securely fastened to angle bracket 50a secured on opposite sides of the frame 12. These brackets 50 each have an upwardly facing opening 51 in which the ends of holder 33 are rmly and accurately seated. Thereby good support is provided against the downward and rearward thr-ust (in respect to the direction of web travel) which the web imparts on the blade and its holder.

A pair of spring-struts 54 reacts between a shaft 55 secured by bracket V56 to the central shaft 13, and a plate 57 fixed to shaft 36, to thereby urge the arms 34, 35, blade holder 33 toward their core. That is to say, the spring-strut unit urges the blade towards its operative position.

Ratchet -means 60 are provided between the arm shaft 36 and central shaft 13 to hold the blade assembly in an out-of-the-way or inoperative position, as when it is desired to unload a completedroll or place a new core in the frame 12. This ratchet means comprises a ratchet gear 61 secured to shaft 36 and a ratchet lever 612 pivoted on shaft 55.

When the blade has been loweredV into the operative position shown in FIGURE l by blade assembly 30, it will benoted that the blade B lies closely adjacent to the periphery of the core, and the blade holder rests firmly in the bracket 50 at each end thereof. The blade is positioned with its width generally tangential to the core.

The guide means G includes a pair of arms 66, 67 which are pivoted at one end to their respective side walls 24 and 25. A rotatable rubber `covered contact or presser roller 68 is mounted on anti friction bearings 68a carried on shaft 69. This shaft is secured in the free ends of the arms. A pair of shorterarms 70 is mounted on the shaft 69 and clamped therewith by tightening o-f the set screws 7.1 which extend through the split ends of arms 70.

A guide bar 72 is secured to the ends of arms 70 by cap screws 73 which are threadably engaged in the end ange 74 of this bar. The guiding edge 75 of this ba-r is smoothly .curved and the web passes over this edge when the bar is moved into its operative position by extension of rams 26 and 27. By loosening screws 71 and the clamp 76 the bar may be angularly adjusted, relative to the presser roll 68, and then the screws 71 and clamps 76 tightened to lock the bar in proper web contacting relationship with the presser roll.

Operation is desired to commence a new roll on the empty core 16. The blade assembly 30 is held in the brackets on frame 12 by the action of the spring-strut unit, and as shown in FIGURE 4, the rollers 4t) are about I; of an inch closer to the periphery of core 16 than is the blade B. As the rams 26 and 27 are extended, the web is contacted by the guide bar and it is deected towards the knife edge. As shown in FIGURE 5, this is the relative position of the parts immediately prior to commencing the cut, and at this time the presser roll 68 is not quite causing the web to contact the adhesive on roll 16.

The presser roll forces the web into firm contact with the new core practically simultaneously with the actual cutting of the web.

FIGURE 6 shows the position of the bar immediately after the web is severed. The cut is instantaneous, the web being severed immediately when the bar has caused the rapidly moving web to be contacted by the serrated knife edge and impaled thereby. It is only necessary for the guide bar to move about 1A of an inch past the blade edge to effect cutting.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the newly formed leading edge E of the web vcontinues its movement underneath the blade, and around the new core. The adhesive holds the web on the core and only a verysmall free leading edge is formed, not of sufficient length to fold backward to form an extra thickness or bump in the roll.

The blade in no way impedes the movement of the free edge of the web, but the latter simply continues unobstructed around the new core.

A particularly smooth and tight connection is provided between the core'and web.

After the new roll has `been started, the rams 26 and 27 retract, thereby moving the guide means out of the way of the growing roll.

When the roll has grown to a sucient size, its periphery bears against the rollers 40 and thereafter the cutting assembly is supported by these rollers.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

l.V iIn combination in a winding machine, a plurality of cores having adhesive on their periphery for winding rolls successively from a Arunning web, a cutting blade having a cutting edge facing generally opposite to the direction of web travel, said blade during a cutting operation being rigidly held in a stationary position closely adjacent an empty core, and means for directing the web being wound on a substantially completed roll to bring it into contact with said Vempty core and cause it to be impaled on said edge and thereby severed by said stationary blade.

2. In combination in a winding machine, means including a turnover frame for winding a plurality of rolls successively from a running web, a plurality of cores on said frarne and having adhesive on their periphery and on which said rolls are Wound, a cutting blade having a cutting edge facing generally in a direction opposite to the direction of web travel, said blade being mounted on said frame and rigidly held in a stationary position during a cutting operation and closely adjacent an empty core, and means for directing the web being wound on a substantially completed roll to bring it into contact with said empty core and cause it to be impaled on said edge and thereby severed by said stationary blade.

3. In combination in a winding machine, means including a turnover frame for winding a plurality of rolls successively from a running web, a plurality of rotatably driven cores on said frame and having adhesive on their periphery and on which said rolls are Wound, a cutting blade mounted on said frame and having a cutting edge facing generally opposite to the direction of web travel, said blade during a cutting operation being rigidly held in a stationary position closely adjacent an empty core, a swingable guide assembly including a presser roll to press the web being wound on a substantially completed roll to bring it into irm contact with said empty core, and said assembly also including means to direct said web into impaling contact with said blade edge for severance thereby.

4. In combination, a continuous rewinder having a rotatable frame, a plurality of cores rotatably carried by said frame, said cores having an adhesive material around at least a portion of their periphery for causing said web to adhere thereto, supply means for supplying a tensioned web to one or said cores at a time, said frame being rotatable so that when one of said cores has been wound with web material to form a substantially completed roll said web is moving past and closely adjacent an empty core, a cutting blade staticnarily and rigidly supported on `said frame and adjacent said empty core during a web cutting operation, said blade having a cntting edge facing in a direction generally opposite to that of the direction of movement of said moving web, and shiftable means for contacting and urging said moving web into impaling contact with said blade edge to thereby cause said web to be severed and a newly formed leading web edge to adhere to and follow said empty core and thereby be wound therearound.

5. In combination, a continuous rewinder having a rtatable frame, a plurality of cores rotatably carried by said frame, said cores having an adhesive material around at least a portion of their periphery for causing said web to adhere thereto, supply means for supplying a tensioned web to one of said cores at a time, said frame being r0- tatable so that when one of said cores has been wound with web material to form a substantially completed roll said web is moving past and closely adjacent an empty core, a cutting blade swingably mounted on said frame and adapted to be urged by roll build up from a stationary and rigid position where it is supported on said frame adjacent said empty core during a web cutting operation to an inoperative position away from said empty core, said blade having a cutting edge facing said moving web passing closely thereby when said blade is in said stationary position, and a shiftable guide assembly for pressing said web into contact with said empty core and urging it into impaling contact with said blade edge to thereby cause said web to be severed and a newly formed leading web edge to adhere to and follow said empty core and thereby be wound therearound.

6. A continuous rewinder having a rotatable frame, a plurality of cores rotatably carried by said frame, said cores having an adhesive material around at least a portion of their periphery for causing said web to adhere thereto, and a cutting blade for each core and swingably mounted on said frame and adapted to be urged by roll build up from a stationary and rigid position adjacent its respective core to an inoperative position away from its respective core, said blade having a cutting edge adapted when in said stationary position to face in a direction generally opposite to movement of `said web passing closely thereby.

7. A continuous rewinder having a rotatable frame including a central shaft from which said frame extends in opposite directions to form free ends, a core rotatably mounted on each of the free ends, a pair of cutting assemblies swingably mounted on said central shaft and extending therefrom in opposite directions towards their respective core, each assembly having a web cutting blade located closely adjacent its core When in cutting position, said blade when in said position being supported rigidly and stationarily by said frame adjacent its free end, and said assemblies being swingable by roll build up from said cutting position to a position away from their respective cores.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,095,123 Carkhul Oct. 5, 1937 2,200,000 Johnstone May 7, 1940 2,361,264 Christman Oct. 24, 1944 2,942,796 Gurney et al. June 28, 1960 

1. IN COMBINATION IN A WINDING MACHINE, A PLURALITY OF CORES HAVING ADHESIVE ON THEIR PERIPHERY FOR WINDING ROLLS SUCCESSIVELY FROM A RUNNING WEB, A CUTTING BLADE HAVING A CUTTING EDGE FACING GENERALLY OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF WEB TRAVEL, SAID BLADE DURING A CUTTING OPERATION BEING RIGIDLY HELD IN A STATIONARY POSITION CLOSELY ADJACENT AN EMPTY CORE, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING THE WEB BEING WOUND ON A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED ROLL TO BRING IT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID EMPTY CORE AND CAUSE IT TO BE IMPALED ON SAID EDGE AND THEREBY SEVERED BY SAID STATIONARY BLADE. 